Engine for mining-machines.



PATENTED APR. 26, 1 904.

J. HEENAN. ENGINE FOR MINING MACHINES.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 21, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

PATENTED APR. 26,1904.

J. HEENAN. ENGINE FOR MINING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

N0 MODEL.

a QM NENQ NN finder-d 01 L/Zmas flee/76 4,

PATBNTED APR. 26,1904. J. HBENAN. I ENGINE FOR MINING MACHINES.

APPLICATION PILEfi AUG. 21, 1903.

a sums-sum a.

- lwwwio'o a /za? 5496/16 4, @1144 attozmzg N0 IODEL Wvbvwom No. 758,533. Patented April 26, 1904. i

UNITE STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES HEENAN, OF MIDDLETON, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 7 TO THOMAS S. HAYMOND, JOHN PRUNTY, AND GEORGE B. COBURN, OF

MIDDLETON, WEST VIRGINIA.

ENGINE FOR MININGQMACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,533, dated April 26, 1904.

Application filed August 21, 1903. Serial No. 170,345- (No model.)

To all whom it y without incurring liability of loss of energy Be it known thatI, JAMES HEENAN, a citizen or power. of the United States, residing at Middleton, in The invention further consists in the conthe county of Marion and State of West Virstruction and arrangement of the several parts, 5 ginia, have invented new and useful Improvewhich will be more fully hereinafter described ments in Engines for Mining-Machines, of and claimed. 1 g which the following is a specification. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation This invention relates to mining-machines of a machine embodying the features of the of that class which are readily portable or invention. Fig. 2isah0rizontal section taken IO shiftable from one position to another and emthrough the main piston-chamber. Fig. 3 is bodying a reciprocating implement or pick for a transverse vertical section on the line 8 3, breaking or loosening ore, and has particular Fig. 4:. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the chest reference to engines for such machines. The with the upper portion removed and showing present machine is of that type in which coma portion thereof and of the devices therein 5 pressed air is-used as the motive medium and in section. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the actuates a piston having a stem or rod, in the upper portion of the main piston chamber, outer terminal of which an implement or tool showing the inlet and exhaust Valves in secis fixed, but capable of being replaced. tion and illustrating the inlet and exhaust -6 5 The primary object of the present invention grooves leading to the auxiliary mechanism.

20 is to provide means of acomparatively simple Fig. 6 is an irregular section taken through and efi ective nature for controlling the admisthe chest and a portion of the main piston sion of the motive agent to the piston-chamchamber and the auxiliary mechanism for conber and sensitively control the operation of trolling the inlet and exhaust valves. the piston to accommodate the machine in Similar numerals of reference are employed 5 working on certain ores and also to regulate to indicate corresponding parts in the several the stroke and'depth of penetration of the imviews. 77 plement or tool connected to the piston. The numeral 1 designates a main piston- A further object of the invention is to utilchamber, having a rear head 2 and a forize the motive agent in auxiliary mechanism Wardly projecting tubular guide 3, with 3 for regularly controlling the admission to and grooves 4 extending longitudinally through exhaust from the piston chamber or cylinder a portion thereof, for a purpose which will of such agent in such manner as to establish presently appear. The rear extremity of the a cushion action on the piston and avoid jar, guide 3 forms a head 5,at the front terminal or injurious vibration and render the work of of the chamber 1, and in the said head is dis- 35 the implement or tool connected to the piston posed a suitable gland or stuffing-box 6. A

uniform and more practical and materially piston 7 is located in the chamber 1 and proovercome any tendency toward breakage of vided with suitable packing-rings for obvious the mechanism. reasons, and projecting from the said piston 8 5 The invention primarily consists of apistonis a stem or rod 8, which is movable in the 4 chamber having inlet-ports at one side andexguide 3 and projects a considerable distance haust-ports at the opposite side, the inlet-ports beyond the forward extremity of the latter, communicating with an upper chest and both the said stem or rod having feathers or splines sets ofports having valves thereinadjustably 9 at diametrically opposite points to engage 9o connected to an oscillating mechanism actuthe grooves 4 to prevent rotative movement 45 ated by an auxiliary piston which is set in moof the said stem or rod. The front end of 1 tion by aportion of the air or other motive the stem or rod is formed with a suitable medium employed to operate the main piston socket to receive an implement or tool 1O,

which may be replaced at will, so that a number of different implements may be used in connection with the machine to accommodate the work to be performed. In the side wall 11 of the chamber 1 inlet-ports 12 are formed and vertically disposed, and in these ports vertical valves 13 are arranged and free to rotate. In the opposite Wall 14 of the chamber is an exhaust-slot 15, having an outlet-opening 16 and ports 17, communicating with the interior of the chamber. In the ports 17 are vertically -disposed valves 18, similar in construction to the valves 13. The ports 12 also have communication with the interior of the chamber, and the means of 001m munication for both sets of ports 12 and 17 with the interior of the chamber are in the form of a series of openings 19, which are vertically arranged, as clearly shown by Fig. 3, such communicating construction being employed to avoid engagement with the packing-rings on the piston 7, and thus materially reduce wear on the latter. The ports 12 and 17 and the valves therein are disposed in such relation in the side walls 11 and 14 as to be effective in operating the piston 7 and alternately reciprocate such piston in opposite directions, as will be readily understood. The ports 12 and 17 and the exhaust-slot 15 open through the top of the chamber 1, and in the upper surface of the latter inlet-grooves 20 and 21 are formed to supply an auxiliary mechanism for controlling the valve with a motive agent in a manner which will be more fully hereinafter specified. These grooves or channels 20 and 21 are of different lengths, and the inner extremity of the groove or channel 21 is curved or deflected inwardly, as at 22. Extending from about the center of the upper surface of the top of the chamber 1 is an exhaust groove or channel 23, which is curved and angularly disposed at proper intervals and communicates at its outer terminal with the exhaust-slot 15.

On the top of the chamber 1 a chest 24 is secured and is vertically stepped to accommodate the mechanism disposed therein and externally cooperating therewith. This chest 24 has a bottom 25, as clearly shown by Figs. 3 and 4, and through this bottom 25 the valves 13 and 18 project. Communicating with the ports 12 are slots 26, which extend through the bottom 25 and coincide with slots 27 in the side wall 11, the said slots 27 opening into the ports 12, and by this means the motive agent is permitted. to escape from the chest into the chamber 1 when the valves 13 are open. The bottom 25 of the chest 24 covers the exhaustgroove 23 and inlet-grooves 20 and 21, and to regulate the flow of air through the latter grooves valves 28 are disposed in the head 2 and have stems 29 operative from the exterior of said head. The chest 24 has an inlet connection 30, projecting upwardly therefrom, to which a pipe or other conduit is adapted to be connected, and said connection is controlled as to its open and closed position by an externally-operative valve 31.

The valves 13 and 18 are all of the same construction, and, as clearly shown by Fig. 3, each is of elongated cylindrical form, with an intermediate slot 32, forming upper and lower heads 33 and 34, which snugly fit within the ports. The upper heads have operating means secured thereto which consist of cranks 35, having wrist-pins 36 rising from their reduced extremities, to which couplings 37 are movably connected. From the couplings connecting-rods 38 project inwardly toward the center of the chest, the rods of the exhaustvalve being materially shorter than those of the inlet-valve. The inner ends of the rods 38 are attached to couplings 39, movably held on upstanding wrist-pins 40, carried by a plate 41 of circular contour. The plate 41 has a depending trunnion or fulcrum-stud 42, which is seated in the plate 25, forming the bottom of the chest, and by this means the plate 41 is permitted to have an oscillating movement in opposite directions and constitutes what may be termed a wrist-plate or valve-controller. Fixed on and movable with the plate 41 is a cylinder 43 of any preferred construction and having in the lower portion thereof near opposite ends ports 44 and 45. In the cylinder 43 a piston 46 is reciprocatingly mounted and has a rod 47 projecting through the rear head of the cylinder and movably attached in an eccentric position to a motion-disk 48, also rotatably held in horizontal position on the bottom 25 of the chest. Admission of the motive agent to opposite ends of the cylinder 43 causes the piston 46 to reciprocate, as in ordinary piston constructions, and through the rod 47 the motion-disk 48 is actuated and the plate or controller 41 is alternately oscillated in opposite directions, thereby opening one of the inletvalves and one of the exhaust-valves at diagonally opposite points and closing the remaining inlet-valve and exhaust-valve. This alternate movement of the inlet and exhaust valves will be regularly efi'ected to permit the motive agent to enter the main piston-cham- -ber at opposite extremities of the latter and become exhausted at regular intervals, the operation of the several parts being so timed as to establish a cushion at opposite ends of the main piston-chamber with material advantage in the operation of the piston and the stem or rod and implement controlled thereby. The inlet and exhaust valves are adjustable to quicken or slacken their operation by adjusting the rods 38, which have screwthreaded extremities 49 engaging the couplings 37, and by this means the piston 7 in the chamber 1 may be operated to give its full stroke or shorter strokes, as may be desired.

Secured to the forward extremity of the chamber 1 are opposite trunnion-plates 50of angular contour, so that their lower extremities may engage the bottom of the said chamber. The upper portions of these plates have central outwardly-projecting trunnions 51,0n which are mounted wheels 52 for rendering the entire machine portable, and to adjust the balance of the machine the upper portions of the plates have longitudinally-alined slots 53, engaged by set-bolts 54. .By loosening the bolts 54 the plates 50 may be moved either forwardly or rearwardly the required distance to vary the balance of the machine. The machine is' supported by the wheels 52 and is thereby also rendered portable and freely movable to change the application of the implement or tool 10. The operator stands in rear of the machine and grasps depending grips or handles 55, having shanks 56, adjustably held in slotted offsets 57, located on opposite sides of the upper portion of the chest 24. The top and bottom of each offset is formed with a slot 58, both slots being in vertical alinement and engaged by a wedge 59, having its upper reduced terminal screw-threaded and provided withan adjust.- ing-nut 60, whereby when said nut is turned in a proper direction the wedge will be drawn upwardly and firmly clamp the handle-shank against the outer portion of the offset. By adjusting the handle the operator is enabled to work closer to or at a distance rearwardly from the machine in accordance with the requirements of different kinds of mining operations. It will also be understood that the machine as an entirety will be braced and strengthened where found necessary,and, furthermore, packings other than those mentioned will be introduced at different points to obstruct leakage. The machine has been especially constructed for operation by air under compression, but it will be understood that any other motive agent may be used when practicable.

In the event that the piston 46 isobstructed in its operation by the motion-disk 48 coming to a dead-center provision is made for obviating this disadvantage and consists in projecting a stem 61 upwardly from the center of the disk 48 through the top of the highest portion of the chest 24 and securing a turn-head or hand-wheel 62 on the upper end of the said stem. his turn-head or hand-wheel will be within easy reaching distance of the operator and can be quickly engaged for starting the piston 46.

In the operation of the device air is admitted to the chest through the connection 30 and also through the grooves or channels 20'and 21 to the under side of the plate or controller 41, through which ports are formed, as heretofore explained, and communicate with the opposite ends of the cylinder 43. If the piston 7 be in the position shown by Fig. 2 and the valve mechanism arranged as shown by Fig. 4, the motive agent will immediately flow down into the chamber 1 behind the piston 7 and force the latter forwardly, together with its stem or rod 8, until the front diagonally opposite exhaust-port is cleared, when the chamber will be relieved of the initial charge of motive agent in rear of said piston 7 and instantly the other inlet-valve will be opened in advance of ,the piston and the rear exhaustport simultaneously opened, and so on in succession. This alternate opening and closing of the pairs of inlet and exhaust ports is due to the oscillation of the plate or controller 41,

and the latter is set in motion by the air or motive agent coming through the grooves or channels 20 and 21, which are thrown into communication with the cylinder 43 in such manner as to reverse the movement of the piston 46 or cause said latter piston to reciprocate in opposite directions. The cylinder 43 is first thrown into position, so that the port at one end communicates with one of the grooves or channels 20 or 21 and the port at the opposite end with a portion of the exhaust groove or channel 23, and the controller 41' will remain in a positive position until the piston 46 has arrived at a certain point by the operation of the motion-disk 48, when the said controller and cylinder will be shifted to permit the air or other motive agent to enter against the opposite side of the piston and effect an exhaust with another portion of the groove or channel 23, as clearly shown by Figs. 4 and 5. It is possible to adjust the valve 28 so that the controller 41 and cylinder 43, carried thereby, together with the piston 46, will operate so fast as to maintain the piston 7 and its stem or rod in inactive condition, orby the same means the speed of the piston 7 may be controlled.

The improved machine will be found pars ticu'larly advantageous in performing the work for which it has been devised, and to accommodate various applications and conditions changes in the proportions, dimensions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In amining-machine of the class set forth, the combination with a main piston-chamber, a piston therein having a stem projecting forwardly therefrom to receive an implement, ports in the opposite sides of the chamber controlling the inlet and exhaust in relation to the chamber, valves in the said ports, a chest on the chamber, and an oscillating controller having means adjustably connected to the valve and provided with a cylinder and piston operative by the motive agent to alternately open and close opposite sets-of inlet and exhaust valves. I

2. In a mining-machine of the class setforth, the combination of a main piston-chamber having a piston therein provided with a stem, an

implement carried by the stem, inlet and exhaust valves in opposite sides of the chamber controlling-ports, an oscillating controller attached to the valve and having a cylinder thereon with a piston mounted therein, means for supplying and exhausting a motive agent from and to the opposite extremities of the cylinder on the controller, and a chest mounted over the said chamber and controller.

3. In a mining-machine, the combination of a main piston-chamber having a piston therein provided with an elongated stem, pairs of ports being formed in the opposite side walls of the chamber for inlet and exhaust purposes, an implement carried by the stem, rotatable valves in the said ports, an oscillating controller connected to the valves for operating the pairs of the latter u'nitedly in alternation, and a chest disposed over the chamber and controller.

4. In a mining-machine, the combination with a chamber having opposite ports with valves therein, the said valve-ports being arranged in pairs, a controller oscillatingly mounted on the chamber and consisting of a disk with pairs of rods attached to opposite portions thereof and to the said valves, the said disk having a cylinder secured thereon and provided with a piston operative by the motive agent to alternately open and close the opposite pairs of valves, and a chest disposed over the chamber and controller.

5. In a mining-machine of the class set forth, the combination with a main piston-chamber having a piston therein with a tool-holding stem projecting therefrom, the opposite side walls of the chamber having inlet and outlet ports therein and the top of the chamber formed with inlet-grooves, and an exhaustgroove communicating with the common exhaust of the machine, a chest disposed over the chamber and the said grooves, an oscillating controller having a cylinder thereon with the opposite ends of which the said grooves are adapted to communicate, a piston in the cylinder, a motion-disk to which said piston is connected, valves in the ports, and connecting devices between the valves and the controller.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HEENAN.

\Vitnesses:

JESSIE A. KING, GEORGE M. BOND. 

